The dog has seldom been successful in pulling man up to his level of sagacity, but man has frequently dragged the dog down to his.
- James Thurber

Once known as the Gordon Castle Setter, the Gordon Setter was bred to be a sportsman's dog. He is a bird dog and was bred to find and point game birds for the hunter. The early Gordon Setters may also have done some sheep herding. 

The Gordon Setter is the heaviest of the setters, developed to work in dense undergrowth and over uneven ground. A sturdy, well-muscled dog, he has the stamina to search for his quarry over rugged highland terrain.  The adult Gordon Setter stands up to 27 inches tall. His coat is shiny coal black and has rich chestnut-red markings. He has long hair or feathers on his chest, body, legs, and tail, and requires regular brushing.